All kinds of things come to mind here-is it the look, the feel, the sound, the impression, the hero, others pressuring...The list goes on. The best one I can think of is, what is the right bass for the song? Having done a number of sessions and live gigs for artists, it is quite interesting to try to determine the best bass sound for a given situation. During sessions, I carry 2-3 different basses to have some options. There are times where the material is forwarded prior to the session which helps, also if the producer is looking for a certain sound, he/she will ask for a certain bass when the session is booked. Many producers will also rely on the player to provide the best tone and this to me, is the optimal scenario. This means I can choose from the tool pile and work a little more personally on the tone. A P bass is a necessity-as it has been for the last 60 years or so, (maybe a jazz if that is your preference.) Second, an active bass that can get a more modern tone never hurts. I know that many producers (and players) have turned away from 5-6 string basses as those registers are not used as often as they were. If you are using a 5-6 (or bigger), it is not an issue-just make sure that the tones that come out are appropriate for the song. I would say this as a BLANKET statement for every song, make sure that the tone works for the song. (when you are doing "your thing" and it is not for someone else, play what and how you want...just remember that if you are playing for someone else it is crucial to be sensitive to the needs of the artist and producer!!)This sentiment also works for pedals and effects. Play for the song, use the right tones for the song. Many times, the song will tell you what to use and you will hear it as you listen to the track.

The best question that continues to rear its head is "What is the best bass for metal?" I have seen hundreds of answers usually relating to the brand of bass and what it's good for. The best bass for metal is the one that best suits the songs/style. It then is in the hands of the player, who then decides which bass works based on what he/she has and if it will give the sonic quality sought after. I have seen uprights playing metal and pointy basses playing country...Gotta love it! This just shows that it is all about the player's choices...Yes, people flip when they see pointy basses in country but, why not??? It is ultimately the sound not the look anyway right? LOL...I will leave that for you to decide....

here are some examples of different basses on sessions.....different sounds, different songs....see what you think!